This blog was created to honor the memory of Lebanese heroes of all sects who were assassinated for their patriotic stands. May God bless their souls and bless Lebanon.

Friday, December 08, 2006

Sleeping On Fear, Waking Up To Hope

I slept on Nasrallah's speech, slept on the wrong side of the bed (if that should help in describing my state of sleep this past night), and woke up to listen to PM Seniora's response to Nasrallah's serious allegations.

I slept on fear and woke up on hope, slept on negativity and woke up on an impeccable positive attitude on the part of Seniora.

PM Seniora in a calm way took Nasrallah's speech and broke it down in order to respond to it and explain his position and the position of his government.

The highlights:

Nasrallah has delegated himself as the ruler of the country; he has decided ahead of time who will be the majority if Parliamentary elections take place, he has decided the characteristics of the Cabinet that he would oversee and also, who would head the Cabinet, "A Sunni Prime Minister who is clean, true, nationalistic, etc..."

Seniora asks, "Who has given you the authority to say someone is clean or not clean, his money is clean or not clean? This decision rests with the Creator and not with you. Is you party God?"

But to go back to Nasrallah's voyeuristic attitude about the outcome of the majority in the country and who would lead the country, Seniora said that this is not democratic behavior, but an attitude that leads us to fear that Nasrallah is planning a coup.

Seniora was pained that Nasrallah said those in the Opposition are those who support the Resistance. Seniora said, "What about us? You took us off the list in a second? We never supported the Resistance?!!"

Then Seniora discussed the Shebaa Farms issue. Nasrallah yesterday said that Seniora and his government are traitors for trying to get back Al-Ghajar and the Shebaa Farms diplomatically. I never knew, and these are my thoughts, that diplomacy means branding someone as a traitor. Why can't we use multiple venues to liberate our country? Why does it have to be through one way, the use of arms?

Seniora questioned whether some folks want to truely liberate the Shebaa Farms. He said that during the hiwar sessions, the government saw that it wise to have Shebaa to be transferred to the UN's purview, not under Israeli rule, until the Syrians decide to provide the UN with documents showing that the Farms are Lebanese. Despite such a practical approach, Seniora revealed that there was someone who visited him in the Serail and who wanted the Farms to stay under Israeli rule: it's the Iranian Foreign Minister!

Then Seniora asked how Nasrallah says that the Opposition doesn't get foreign support when Hizbullah gets foreign financial support in the millions and unfortunately not through legal channels, such as through the Lebanese Central Bank. Seniora said, "Yes many Arab countries have sent us financial support, but by depositing that money in the Central Bank to benefit all of Lebanon." He welcomed Iranian financial contributions for all Lebanese to benefit from and through a transparent mechanism, by depositing the money in the Central Bank.

I can't summarize an one-hour long speech, but these are some of the highlights. I'm sure other blogs and news sites will shed light on other points Seniora made in his speech. But in general, I am comforted that at least someone in this craziness is not accusing, hating, insulting.

Even when some in the audience booed at mentioning some of what Nasrallah said yesterday, Seniora stopped them and said that this is not a civilized attitude.

I think about it: Even Shar'a, the Syrian Vice President, said that if they had a say in Lebanese political affairs, they would get everything settled in the country from the first day of protests. What does that mean? It means that in their regime language, perhaps he would order tanks to drive over the protesters. This is the language of the neighboring Arab regimes, but not the language of our system in Lebanon.

Who is besieging who? The Serail is besieged and Seniora still says positive things and commends the protesters for demonstrating peacefully because he believes in the freedom of speech and thought.

It is Nasrallah who cannot stand this right, this CONSTITUTIONAL right. I am a Lebanese; the last thing I want to be accused of is that I'm not a Lebanese because I have my OWN mind. I am a FREE Lebanese regardless of who I talk to, of who I associate with, of what I think. In Lebanon, it's not my way or the highway; it's never like that and will never be.

One more thing: On Kalam Innas yesterday, the talk show ended in a verbal fight between MP Ibrahim Kanaan of FPM and MP Mosbah Ahdab of March 14. The most striking insult is when Kanaan accused Ahdab of being a traitor "3ameel" (a disgusting insult)! And also said that he is "cleaner than him" (ana ashraf minnak!) And this is just because Ahdab was furious how Aoun is using terms such as "saramee" (a derogatory term for shoes) and "3uhr" (or prostitution) to characterize the March 14 coalition. Kanaan even said, "il 3uhr 3indak!" (you're the one characterized by prostitution!)

Anyways, today in Riad Solh the Friday prayers are being held by March 8, led by Sunni cleric Fat'hi Yakan (the same person who approached the government to broker a solution). I ask why? I'm a Muslim, but I don't see the reason for holding the Friday prayers in this square. Why can't they hold it in the mosque? Why turn the political podium into a place where sheikhs conduct their Friday sermons? Why turn it into a religious podium? Why mix the two together? There is no reason to do that?

I just listened to a part of the sermon, "How can we support the international tribunal, when one of those who were delegated by Kofi Annan to study the idea of the mixed tribunal is a Jewish woman who graduated from the University of Tel Aviv with a PhD?".....

Alright, time to leave!

Addendum: I remembered something: Seniora explained, in a unique explanation I haven't heard before, the reason why the Constitution stipulates that a Cabinet is dissolved when 1/3 +1 of the Cabinet members resign. Why not for instance when 20% of the Ministers resign? It's because the aim is not for one sect to hijack the decision-making process, to make or break a Cabinet. The ultimate reason for such a stipulation is so sects can work together to make a difference, if they wish so to dissolve a Cabinet or to uphold it.

Another point I wanted to make is that by virtue of a Sayyid, Sayyid Nasrallah a religious figure, taking up the role of a political/military commander, we are bound to see today Muftis of all regions take to the podiums to make speeches and to be provided with media coverage.

It's turning religious more than ever!

"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."

50 comments:

good post. however, i have to call you out on the friday prayer comments you made. i mean just one week ago, they held friday prayers in the serrail and a church service for the soul of pierre gemeyel as well.

Point Taken Raja, but those were private ceremonies and not mass public rallies, and there also was the small thing of a death, but you are right that religion is being infused by all into the process, or should I say reinforced as it is always present

Have I already said "This is getting ridiculous" ?? :)I'm running out of words here. Ways to describe my profound disgust with the way politics are conducted in Lebanon. My utter disgust at hearing Nasrallah's speech yesterday. It was refreshing to hear Siniora actually stepping up to the plate for once, and addressing accusations directly, rather than giving the usual "we're all for dialogue" boilerplate bullshit.

I don't know how this is going to end, or how to go about removing bullies like Nasrallah from the political scene once and for all, but i do know that bullies are incapable of coming to reason, negotiating, or compromising. So Siniora better forget about this whole "Why don't you come back to the negotiating table" approach. That ain't gonna work.

I just read Nasrallah's speech. All I can say is that your interpretation of it confounds me. It reminds me of the story of the people who give different, albeit contradictory and untrue, descriptions of an elephant while touching parts of it blindfolded. Except you keep touching the same place. I suggest taking the blindfolds off.

I recommend to all who read this blog to just read the speech for themselves and make up their own minds.

You are entitled to your opinion, but your fearful, panicked condition continues to feed frenzied anxiety. You need to take off the black/white shades. The world, Lebanon and its crises in this case, is more shades of grey, and even a lot of color too.

Doha, I dont think you should be distressed by the friday prayers..In fact, I think it is yet another miscalculation from the master miscalculator - Hassouna. While he keeps bending over backwards trying to give his movement a non-sectarian color (effectively wearing an orange thong, called Aon), he goes out and implements a Friday prayer, that divides the attendees into those who do the praying and those who sit and watch them.

i'm not telling anyone not to read things for themselves. my take is, i heard his speech yesterday and it wasn't comforting at all. when someone is accusing others of being traitors, and then calling for democracy and dialogue, it's sort of contradictory. he brands March 14 as traitors and then says that he is willing to form a unity gov't with them, but then to add fuel to the fire, he threatens that if they don't concede, he'll form another government.

I heard HN speech and was not amazed.Samahtu looked under pressure and illat ease.I wonder what is his problem really.He was magnanimous or intendedto be so when he pardoned the "Judases"of the Fev 14 who wanted to sell him to the Israelis.This so called Jihaz wasworking for the majority..Does it makesense?if this story were true.I was expecting some violent move from the crowd.Everything went well finally...Very strange.Did they strike a deal andprepare their follower for "Moucharakat"?

good post. however, i have to call you out on the friday prayer comments you made. i mean just one week ago, they held friday prayers in the serrail and a church service for the soul of pierre gemeyel as well.NFL Jerseystn chaussures